By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The last time the New York Mills Eagles took the field, it was in front of a sea of blue at Target Field. Fast forward nearly two years after the Eagles finished their 2019 season as the Class A state runner up and NY Mills took to the field again on Friday night. 

NY Mills, who is currently the top ranked team in Class A, blanked Menahga by a score of 8-0 in its regular season opener against the Braves. Four pitchers combined to hold the Braves to just 3 hits and struck out 11 hitters, as the Eagles came away with an important win in their first game since 2019.

NY Mills wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Jacob Guck led off the top of the first inning with a triple. He scored just one batter later when Jonah Johnson hit an RBI single to make the score 1-0. 

NY Mills added another run in the top of the fourth inning when Drey Roberts led off the inning with a double. A Monte Briard fielder’s choice brought Roberts across the plate to make the score 2-0. 

The game was broken wide open just one inning later when the Eagles added four more runs when Derin Gaudette hit a 2-run single and Eathan Ruther followed with a two out triple to bring two more runs across the plate to make the score 6-0. 

The Eagles added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning when Johnson connected with a two out double to bring Jace Rudolph and Guck across the plate to score to make the game 8-0. It was more than enough runs for the Eagles as Gaudette, Roberts, Johnson and Guck who combined to pitch 7 scoreless innings and gave up just 3 hits along the way.

Gaudette picked up the win on the mound as he gave up just 1 hit over 3 innings, while striking out 7 hitters. Roberts pitched 2 innings and gave up a pair of hits, while striking out 2 hitters in relief. Johnson and Guck pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning, while striking out 1 hitter apiece to close out the game.

Guck and Johnson both had a pair of hits in the win, while Johnson finished with 3 RBIs and two walks. 

This week the Eagles are scheduled to host Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale on Tuesday, before they hit the road on Friday to take on to Parkers Prairie. 

AB R H BI

Jacob Guck 3 3 2 0

Jonah Johnson 2 1 2 3

Derin Gaudette 4 1 1 2

Drey Roberts 3 1 1 0

Zach Partlow 1 0 0 0

Breck Hensch 1 0 0 0

Eathan Ruther 2 0 1 2

Monte Briard 3 0 0 1

Lucas Grabow 0 0 0 0

Cale Rudolph 4 0 0 0

Chase Keskitalo 2 0 0 0

Braden Ehnert 1 0 0 0

Jace Rudolph 3 2 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Drey Roberts, Jonah Johnson; 3B- Jacob Guck, Eathan Ruther

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Derin Gaudette 3-1-0-0-1-7, Drey Roberts 2-2-0-0-0-2, Jonah Johnson 1-0-0-0-1-1, Jacob Guck 1-0-0-0-0-1